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tikky's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good book. Finished in about a week. However, there are some things that annoy me.
I'm gonna say that I always believed that George Hodel was the killer. Unless I find another book or other writing that proves it - beyond a reasonable doubt - that it wasn't him but another person, I will stand by this.
Steve Hodel makes a good case. There are several pieces of evidence strongly linking his father to the Dahlia murder, no questions asked. Plus, given the author's description of his father, talking about his personal experiences, etc, I absolutely believe that Dr Hodel was a sadistic monster.
However, some evidence, that were allegedly examined and confirmed by experts and/or other law enforcement officials, just don't make sense at all.
The pictures supposedly of Elizabeth Short in the Dr's photo album are not convincing. Apparently, since the publication of the book, several "experts" and other individuals claiming to know better, came forward saying that the woman in those pictures is NOT Beth Short. I can see a little resemblance but I tend to believe that it is someone else.
The biggest WTF (excuse my French) was the handwriting analysis. My god!!! If that woman, the expert Steve Hodel hired to analyse thehandwritings of his father and the Black Dahlia Avenger, is really an expert then I would like the cases closed in results to her analysis reopened and re-examined. She says the person who wrote the taunting messages to the press and police, and George Hodel are highly likely, "there is a strong possibility ", the same person. She details her findings and highlights a few letters that show consistency from example to example. When I tell you that I don't see a single similarity between those notes and Hodel's handwriting! Not one. Definitely not the ones the "expert" highlighted.
There were some other minor inconsistencies that, for a moment, tipped the scale to the "it was someone else, not Hodel" side, but the DA documents might just saved the day. Those do not include any super compelling evidence either but back then - if the LAPD wasn't as dirty -, or even today, they would've been/should've been enough to arrest, and maybe even try Hodel and prevent him from fleeing the country. We will never know.
The other thing that really rubbed me the wrong way was the author's own appraisal of himself. He did not miss a chance to remind the reader what a highly decorated and talented detective he was/is. He put every other person's appraisal of him promptly in the book, using it somewhat as further evidence that he can only be right about accusing his father of not just the murder of the Black Dahlia but other women too. It's like "I'm amazing, therefore I'm right." These sections in the books really just discredited him (and other professionals) more and more.
I am awaiting another book on the case that implicates someone else as the Dahlia murderer, so I'm curious to see if they can convince me of Hodel's innocence.
I'm gonna say that I always believed that George Hodel was the killer. Unless I find another book or other writing that proves it - beyond a reasonable doubt - that it wasn't him but another person, I will stand by this.
Steve Hodel makes a good case. There are several pieces of evidence strongly linking his father to the Dahlia murder, no questions asked. Plus, given the author's description of his father, talking about his personal experiences, etc, I absolutely believe that Dr Hodel was a sadistic monster.
However, some evidence, that were allegedly examined and confirmed by experts and/or other law enforcement officials, just don't make sense at all.
The pictures supposedly of Elizabeth Short in the Dr's photo album are not convincing. Apparently, since the publication of the book, several "experts" and other individuals claiming to know better, came forward saying that the woman in those pictures is NOT Beth Short. I can see a little resemblance but I tend to believe that it is someone else.
The biggest WTF (excuse my French) was the handwriting analysis. My god!!! If that woman, the expert Steve Hodel hired to analyse thehandwritings of his father and the Black Dahlia Avenger, is really an expert then I would like the cases closed in results to her analysis reopened and re-examined. She says the person who wrote the taunting messages to the press and police, and George Hodel are highly likely, "there is a strong possibility ", the same person. She details her findings and highlights a few letters that show consistency from example to example. When I tell you that I don't see a single similarity between those notes and Hodel's handwriting! Not one. Definitely not the ones the "expert" highlighted.
There were some other minor inconsistencies that, for a moment, tipped the scale to the "it was someone else, not Hodel" side, but the DA documents might just saved the day. Those do not include any super compelling evidence either but back then - if the LAPD wasn't as dirty -, or even today, they would've been/should've been enough to arrest, and maybe even try Hodel and prevent him from fleeing the country. We will never know.
The other thing that really rubbed me the wrong way was the author's own appraisal of himself. He did not miss a chance to remind the reader what a highly decorated and talented detective he was/is. He put every other person's appraisal of him promptly in the book, using it somewhat as further evidence that he can only be right about accusing his father of not just the murder of the Black Dahlia but other women too. It's like "I'm amazing, therefore I'm right." These sections in the books really just discredited him (and other professionals) more and more.
I am awaiting another book on the case that implicates someone else as the Dahlia murderer, so I'm curious to see if they can convince me of Hodel's innocence.
bibliotequeish's review against another edition
2.0
This is a book of speculation,
Convinced his father is the Black Dahlia murderer former LAPD investigator Steve Hodel writes a book cataloging his circumstantial evidence.
Not what I expected.
Convinced his father is the Black Dahlia murderer former LAPD investigator Steve Hodel writes a book cataloging his circumstantial evidence.
Not what I expected.
glowe2's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
3.0
True crime book focusing on the famous Black Dahlia murder. The author, a former LAPD detective, believes the victim (Elizabeth Short) was one in a series of murders done by a serial killer, his own father! . He links the position Elizabeth Short was found to photos made by a avant-garde artist named ManRay (who was friendly with the killer) in how the body was posed. His evidence linking the Black Dahlia and subsequet Red Lipstick murder (plus other suspected murders) is circumstantial but that is understandable given the crime happened over 50 years and he does not have direct access to the LAPD internal reports.
If his conjectures are true, then the LAPD knew they had a serial killer on the loose but for political reasons decided to bury the evidence. When a grand jury investigation started to get close to an indictment, the killer fled the country. Unfortunately, the author does not state whether he contacted the other countries to see if there were unsolved murders coinciding with the time periods when the killer lived there.
If his conjectures are true, then the LAPD knew they had a serial killer on the loose but for political reasons decided to bury the evidence. When a grand jury investigation started to get close to an indictment, the killer fled the country. Unfortunately, the author does not state whether he contacted the other countries to see if there were unsolved murders coinciding with the time periods when the killer lived there.
promisesatsundown's review against another edition
5.0
I've read every single book on the market about the Black Dahlia Murder to date and Steve Hodel's theory is the only theory that makes any sense. I think most people who are skeptical haven't done the amount of research that I have done and I'll admit, if you have only read one book on the subject, it's quite easy to be skeptical. But if you're really and truly interested in the Black Dahlia Murder, go out and read every other book out there about it. Then re-read Steve's book(s). For me, Steve has solved this case. Bravo, Steve!
okenwillow's review against another edition
5.0
L’enquête de Steve Hodel est plus que convaincante. Tout au long de ce pavé de presque 800 pages il nous décortique un fait divers jamais élucidé, et nous révèle la face cachée de la police du Los Angeles des années 40. Corruption, crimes, scandales sexuels, tout y est. Avec une froide objectivité Hodel nous dresse le portrait de son père, impressionnant et génial, et celui de l’assassin du Dahlia, pervers et joueur, et à coup de preuves et de nombreuses pièces à conviction nous démontre les rouages d’une enquête étrangement menée, restée irrésolue pendant plus de 50 ans. Si parfois le foisonnement d’éléments peut paraitre rébarbatif et long, ce n’est que pour mieux éclairer le lecteur.
À lire après Le Dahlia noir de James Ellroy.
À lire après Le Dahlia noir de James Ellroy.
darkcoffeelover81's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
fictionista3's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Body horror, and Murder